Whistler’s new owner to steer clear of helm

DAVID Aplin, the new owner/ skipper of Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race contender Team Whistler, has no plans to hog the helm during next week’s long offshore race.

“I’ve been the mastman on Whistler and other yachts for years and that’s where I intend to be mostly during this race,” Aplin said. “I have three very good helmsmen in the crew, David Rees, Tim Jones and Pat Morgan, and they will do most of the steering.”

Whistler is one of the favourites for an AMS and/or IRC handicap win in the L2H following her impressive wins in last month’s 70th Maria Island Race.

The race starts from Beauty Point on the Tamar River at 11.30am on December 27 and the 24-boat fleet finishes off Hobart’s Battery Point, a distance of 285 nautical miles.

Team Whistler (the name has been changed from Whistler for this race to avoid confusion with another entrant also named Whistler) is a past handicap division winner of the L2H.

“We have brought together most of the old Whistler crew from when David Rees skippered for the late owner John Hislop,” Aplin said.

Designed by the Murray/ Burns/Dovell group, the 36footer has an excellent offshore record, including wins in the Three Peaks Race, the Maria Island Race and a division win in the L2H.

“After sailing as mastman on Planet X in last year’s L2H, I saw that Whistler was on the market following the death of her owner and decided it was time I became a yacht owner,” Aplin said. “I have been sailing on Whistler since 2009. The crew includes Isaac Smith, David Spiers and Jacqui Guy.

“We’ve given the boat a thorough refurbishment, including new winches, new sails and we are confident of doing pretty well under IRC and AMS scoring in the L2H.”

Aplin, a Hobart electrician, said the future program for Team Whistler would be the 2018 Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster and the 75th Sydney Hobart followed by the Australian Yachting championships in Hobart.